Anderson on DL, Powell and Tolleson up – updated

Brett Anderson is about to be placed on the DL with a medial forearm strain and elbow irritation, and he’s scheduled for a contrast MRI, which should give the team a better idea about a timetable for his return. Anderson, 22, is obviously a major piece of the A’s future and they’re going to be cautious with a player they just handed a multi-year contract.

So Landon Powell was recalled less than a week after being sent down (that’s allowed in the case of a DL) and he’s in the lineup tonight because Kurt Suzuki (sore left side) isn’t quite ready to go yet. Suzuki said he hopes tomorrow night or, for sure, Thursday in Toronto.

UPDATE: Powell told me both Vin Mazzaro and Trevor Cahill look great at Sacramento; he said even Mazzaro’s one poor outing was actually good, but the team made numerous errors behind him and he gave up some bloop hits and bleeders. Powell said Mazzaro’s day to pitch is Thursday and Cahill’s is Friday, which doesn’t narrow it down any. Both are candidates to pitch at Toronto on Friday. Do the A’s go with the guy who’s been the Pacific Coast League’s best starter in the early going (Mazzaro)? Or the guy who was in the Oakland rotation all of last year (Cahill)?

Daric Barton isn’t going on the DL, but he’s not in the lineup tonight – Jake Fox is at first, a spot he played little this spring but which a scout just told me is his best position.

UPDATE: After taking batting practice and some first base, Barton was OK’d to play tonight. He’s now in the lineup and batting second. I’ll re-do the earlier lineup to reflect that. Barton said he can throw with that injured right middle finger (fractured volar plate) so, for once, the A’s appear to be dodging a DL stay.

Here’s some other good injury info: Joey Devine visited Dr. James Andrews on Monday and he was diagnosed with severe elbow tendinitis. Why is that good? Devine thought he might need his flexor tendon repaired, but instead, he’s just getting shut down from throwing for two weeks and then he’ll resume rehab. Tendinitis is very common among those coming back from Tommy John surgery; A’s minor-leaguer Fautino De Los Santos has been dealing with tendinitis and other issues for more than two years.

Infielder Steve Tolleson is en route for his first big-league callup, but a corresponding move has not yet been made. It will be a reliever, because Jerry Blevins had a good side session today, but it’s unlikely that it’s Brad Kilby going out – he’s throwing the ball well.

I’ll try to update that later.

UPDATE: Edwar Ramirez, whose control has been off lately, was optioned to Triple-A Sacramento. He said he’ll concentrate on working on his fastball location.

A reminder: I’m providing A’s news as soon as I get it via Twitter account @susanslusser. All the info above was tweeted much earlier. So if you’re eager to get breaking news, that’s the best spot, and I try to fill in details and do some speculating here.